Considering the Giants’ misfortune all season, yesterday’s mixed bag of an injury report qualified as good news.
Although Osi Umenyiora and Mark Herzlich were ruled out and Mario Manningham was deemed doubtful for tomorrow’s showdown with the Packers, the Giants welcomed Ahmad Bradshaw back to practice for the first time in over a month and appear likely to have Bradshaw, Hakeem Nicks and Michael Boley in uniform.
Bradshaw has been sidelined since breaking a bone in his foot Oct. 30 against Miami, but practiced on a limited basis yesterday and is expected to play if he doesn’t wake up with soreness today.
Bradshaw proclaimed himself “ready to go” after yesterday’s workout, although he said he realizes convincing coach Tom Coughlin will be the tougher task.
“[Coughlin] wanted to see if I was comfortable on my feet and with our offense and with the Green Bay defense,” Bradshaw said. “I think I satisfied him, and I satisfied myself as well.”
Coughlin kept his enthusiasm about Bradshaw to a minimum.
“He did okay,” Coughlin said when asked to assess Bradshaw’s practice performance. “He went and worked. He’s telling me all of the things that I want to hear, but he did okay.”
But while the Giants are hopeful of having Bradshaw, Nicks (concussion fear) and Boley back, Manningham appears almost certain to miss his second consecutive game due to a knee injury that he admitted could require surgery after the season.
* Safety Kenny Phillips was relieved and seemingly more than a little surprised that he didn’t receive a fine from the NFL for his hit on Saints tight end Jimmy Graham on Monday.
“You never know what they’re going to do,” Phillips said. “I haven’t been fined yet, and I hope it stays that way. Christmas is coming up, so maybe they didn’t feel like [fining me]. I hope so.”
Phillips was penalized for the violent hit, which appeared to involve helmet-to-helmet contact. He said he wouldn’t change how he plays except to avoid using his helmet.
* Defensive coordinator Perry Fewell’s tirade Thursday — in which he vowed to “get after [Aaron Rodgers’ butt]” — drew Coughlin’s blessing yesterday.
“What’s the big deal about what he said?” Coughlin said. “I don’t believe [the comment about Rodgers] was a taunt. I think it’s more because he’s upset with what has happened in the last couple of weeks and would like to see us play harder.”
* The Giants won’t be the only ones with a lengthy inactive list tomorrow after the Packers announced both of their starting inside linebackers, A.J. Hawk and Desmond Bishop, will miss the game due to injury.
